LAUGHSPINAll Things in Comedy2016-12-07T15:07:55Zhttp://www.laughspin.com/feed/atom/WordPressLaughspin Staffhttp://www.laughspin.com/?p=824232016-12-07T15:07:55Z2016-12-07T15:07:55ZToday, officials from the nation’s first-ever community-wide festival of laughter, Gilda’s LaughFest, announced the first round of talent and shows scheduled for the festival’s seventh year to be held March 9 to 19, 2017, in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan and surrounding communities. New this year, details were released regarding LaughFest Badges, which allow individuals access to various aspects of the festival depending on the level of badge purchased.

Headliners announced include Iliza (Shlesinger) and Sinbad. Festival favorites and featuring multiple artists are, the Bissell Presents Clean Comedy Showcase, Best of the Midwest Competition, underwritten by Wolverine World Wide; and the Gun Lake Casino Presents National Stand-up Comedy Showcase will be returning during the 2017 festival. Other shows announced at this time include LaughFest’s Best, Pop Scholars and River City Improv.

Iliza’s show will be held Friday, March 17, at Fountain Street Church in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. Iliza first appeared at LaughFest in 2015 and sold out multiple shows. Originally from Dallas, she is the only female and youngest comedian to hold the title of NBC’s Last Comic Standing. In 2013, her debut one-hour comedy special, War Paint, reached number one on the iTunes charts and in 2015 Esquire Magazine listed her as one of the top comedians working today. Currently Iliza can be seen in Confirmed Kills, her newest stand-up special for Netflix, which premiered in September and in early 2017 her first book Girl Logic will be released.

Returning to LaughFest on March 10 at 8 p.m., Sinbad will also perform at Fountain Street Church. Ranked by Comedy Central as one of the top 100 stand-up comedians of all time, Sinbad has built a loyal following and is known for “making it sound profound without being profane.” He is known for his starring appearances in Jingle All the Way, Houseguest, and Necessary Roughness. He has starred in the television sit-com A Different World as well as his own series, The Sinbad Show.

The Best of the Midwest Competition will be held on Wednesday, March 15 at the BOB and includes eight artists. Those vying for the Best of the Midwest title include Marty DeRosa, Alex Kumin, Shaun Latham, Zach Martina, Mike Paramore, Ramon Rivas, Will Spottedbear, and Kristen Toomey.

The Gun Lake Casino Presents National Stand-up Comedy Showcase will be held March 17 and 18 at the BOB. Artists participating in the showcase include Matthew Broussard, Drew Michael, Liz Miele, Ali Siddiq, Christian Finnegan, Megan Gailey, Shane Torres and Ricky Velez.

Other shows highlighted during today’s announcement are LaughFest’s Best, a secret sampling of comedians from across the festival including regional and national comics; Pop Scholars, a four-man, fast paced improv team; and River City Improv, which provides clean adult laughs using comedic improvisation with games and songs.

Access to ticketed LaughFest events are available by purchasing LaughFest Badges, ticket packages and single ticket sales. LaughFest Badges are priced at four levels and provide individuals with unique opportunities to experience the festival. Festival badges range in price from $99 – $449 and various options include tickets to their choice of artists, insider perks like access to exclusive parties, early access to single ticket sales, first chance seating at free shows, merchandise discounts, access to the Headliner’s Club, exclusive festival t-shirt, and more.

Information about ticket packages, festival badges and single ticket sales is available at laughfestgr.org. Packages and badges will go on sale later this month, single tickets will go on sale in late January. Updates regarding LaughFest and ticket sales will be shared on the festival’s various social media platforms.

]]>0Laughspin Staffhttp://www.laughspin.com/?p=824172016-12-06T23:17:51Z2016-12-06T23:17:51ZComedian Jeannette Rizzi will star in a special performance of her solo show Blindsided at 8 pm on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017 at Actors Theatre Workshop in Manhattan. Tickets ($25 each) are now available at BrownPaperTickets.com.

As raw as it is funny, Blindsided is a personal journey about an all-American teen growing up in rural Florida who is devastated about her best friend Katie’s suicide. The daughter of a former monk and former nun (yes, really), Jeannette – only 17 at the time, was charged with delivering her best friend’s eulogy in front of hundreds of mourners and, worse, living the rest of her life with her own debilitating suicidal thoughts. Ultimately hopeful and uplifting, Blindsided finds Jeannette fully capable of laughing at herself and constantly finding the hilarious side of her situation.

Blindsided is being presented by Laughspin.com, the long-running comedy news and features site and its founder Dylan Gadino.

The Actors Theatre Workshop is located at 145 West 28th Street, 3rd floor.

Jeannette is available for print and online interviews; radio, television and podcast appearances and as guest writing opportunities for select publications.

——-

What do you get when a monk and a nun do the Holy Nasty?

This isn’t so much the set-up to a terrible joke though it could be but rather the origin story of Jeannette Rizzi comedian, storyteller, force of nature.

After retiring from their religious posts and leaving life in Brooklyn, NY, Jeannette’s parents settled in the rural town of Alachua, FL to lead a simpler farm life among the cows. But Jeannette had other plans. By the age of 23, Jeannette found her own calling in comedy and moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream.

Inspired by the likes of Ellen DeGeneres, Whoopi Goldberg and yes, even Cher, Jeannette started hitting comedy stages in earnest, eventually finding success beyond LA. She snagged accolades at Floridas Funniest Comedian competition, the Time Warner On Demand Comedy Contest, the Cleveland Comedy Festival, the Tickled Pink Comedy Contest and more.

Jeannette was also a featured comedian at the Laughing Devil Comedy Festival and earned the honor of hosting the Ovarian Cancer Circles Happily Ever Laughter event.

For the last few years, Jeannette has been performing her one-woman show Blindsided at comedy clubs, theaters and schools. Emboldened by the suicide of her best friend, the show is about finding hope during seemingly hopeless times. Blindsided showcases Jeannette’s deft character work, her willingness to share all aspects of her life and her unique ability to connect with an audience.

]]>0Jeannette Rizzihttp://www.laughspin.com/?p=823982016-12-06T19:14:30Z2016-12-06T19:10:14ZThough it’s been 14 years since he’s released a proper stand-up comedy special, Martin Lawrence’s presence on persistent influence to younger generations of comedian has never waned. With a national tour — three more dates coming up! — on the heels of his new special Doin’ Time: Uncut, which debuted on Showtime earlier this year and can now be viewed On Demand, Lawrence is poised to enter 2017 stronger than ever. Filmed live at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, Doin’ Time: Uncut finds the ever-physical Lawrence opining on Barack Obama, Bill Cosby, life in Hollywood and more.

We recently caught up with Lawrence to chat about the new comedy special, his past in the world of boxing and more. Check it out below!

Martin we are all so happy to see you have a new comedy special out! How does it feel getting back on stage after fourteen years?It feels good! The reception I am getting from everyone welcoming me back on stage feels so great.

What was the process like developing it? Did you get back on the grind of testing out all of your new material in the comedy clubs?Yes, absolutely. I workout the material with my brothers, friends, and then we go to comedy clubs and try it out. We get back in those smoke filled rooms, small rooms, small venues, and then we work our way up to the bigger venues.

What is it like now when you’re testing new material? Do you feel the same type of pressure you felt when you were first starting out in your open mic days?
I do feel the pressure to deliver because I always want to be funny. That’s always the name of the game. But, the reception I get when I come on stage now is always so warm, I don’t really feel the pressure from that angle.

I would assume the clapping and cheering from the audience almost acts as an anti-anxeity medication for you? It just naturally relaxes you.Yes, exactly!

I noticed in this special you made a lot of jokes about boxing, but you don’t actually give yourself enough credit. You were a Golden Gloves contender right? Did you ever consider becoming a professional boxer verses a comedian?
Yes, I was Golden Gloves contender. But no, not really. I was a Golden Gloves runner-up and then I came home with my eye swollen and my mother was like, “Oh no, that is not what you’re going to do!” So she took me out of boxing as soon as she saw my eye swollen.

And what would you say hurts worse, a left hook to the ribs or a joke that bombs?Well I’ll tell you they both can hurt! They both don’t feel good!

In the opening of this special you spoke a little bit about going to see Eddie Murphy and that sort of made up your mind that you wanted to become a comedian. Can you tell me a little bit more about that experience?
It was a beautiful experience because I was a big fan. I drove two hours to see him in Richmond and when I was watching him perform I was thinking, “He is so good!” On the way home, I said to myself, “I got work to do! If want to be as good as Eddie I have a lot of work to do!” From that point on I just kept working really hard on my material.

I have to say I have always been a huge fan of yours and you inspired me to do comedy as well. One day I saw you at Hugo’s and I was so starstruck I could hardly speak. So, my question is, where you like that the first time you worked with Eddie Murphy? Or was it super easy for you?
Yes, I was like that. I was starstruck, I couldn’t believe I was getting ready to work with one of my idols so to speak. I couldn’t believe it, I was in awe. I would watch how he worked, and his professionalism. I was just honored to be around him.

Also, in this special, you mentioned when you auditioned for Star Search you were yourself. You didn’t clean up your material, you were still blue correct?
Yes, that’s correct.

A lot of times when I am in comedy clubs I hear comics talking about changing themselves for the crowd or for the type of venue they are in. How do you feel about that?
I kind of do what I want to do and it is what it is, but I have been in that position where I have done material that isn’t appropriate for that setting. I had a Saturday Night Live incident where I did material that wasn’t appropriate. So yes, I have been in that position before and it’s not a good position to be in. So be yourself, but make sure you have material that’s right for whatever venue you perform in.

Years ago, sadly, we almost lost you. You almost lost your life. Did that change you, how you look at life or how you approach your comedy at all?
I think so. I’m more appreciative of life. I don’t take things for granted as much as I probably did when I was younger. I’m a lot more focused.

You always have really solid relationship material. Is there any funny advice you’d give the single people who are feeling lonely?I don’t know if there’s any funny advice I have, but the only thing you can do is keep hope alive if you want it to work! You got to put in the hours and the time and it has to be worth it.

So, of course my final question is the one everyone wants the answer to. When we will see Bad Boys 3?We’re working on it. I don’t have a specific date, but I believe it’s going to happen.

]]>0Laughspin Staffhttp://www.laughspin.com/?p=823822016-11-28T16:07:17Z2016-11-23T17:30:12ZThis weekend we celebrate Thanksgiving, or as some correct history purists might refer to it– the systematic murder of the original American settlers. A lot has been written about the first Thanksgiving. How accurate those accounts in American History books that line the shelves of our Elementary schools are, at best, questionable. Regardless it’s the second Thanksgiving that hasn’t been explored nearly as much. Until now.

Thanks to We Are Thomasse, a married British-American comedy team comprised of Nick Afka Thomas and Sarah Ann Masse, we finally get a peek into what went down on the eve of history’s second ever Thanksgiving celebration. Probably. Shot within a beautiful Fall backdrop, we find our happy Pilgrim couple collecting fire wood and discussing plans for Thanksgiving dinner. Elenor wants to invite all their friends, including the Native Americans again. Husband John, however, doesn’t think that’s a great idea– for a myriad of reasons, most of which, as you can imagine, are suspect. Check out the action below to see if they can come to some sort of agreement– you know, in the spirit of Thanksgiving.

If you’re into the video, be sure to check out We Are Thomasse online; the comedy team releases a new video every two weeks.

]]>0Laughspin Staffhttp://www.laughspin.com/?p=823722016-11-23T00:19:38Z2016-11-23T00:07:06ZComedian/musician Reggie Watts brings viewers along on a one-of-a-kind surrealist experimental comedy adventure in his Netflix Original Comedy Special, Reggie Watts: Spatial, premiering Friday, December 6. The completely improvised show weaves together sketches, short stories, and dream sequences creating a truly unique experience. Filmed live on a soundstage in Los Angeles, Watts waxes poetic about flight, grits, and guns – and takes the audience on a trip fantastic they will not soon forget.

]]>0Laughspin Staffhttp://www.laughspin.com/?p=823652016-11-21T22:32:26Z2016-11-21T22:32:26ZDebuting at the 2016 Toronto Film Festival to critical acclaim, Barry is a nuanced, artistic exploration of a pivotal year in the life of the 44th President of the United States. A young Barack Obama, known to his friends as “Barry,” arrives in New York City in the fall of 1981 to begin his junior year at Columbia University. His experiences over that pivotal school year lay the foundation for his views on race, government, and what it means to be an American.

Director Vikram Gandhi (Kumaré, HBO’s “Vice”), a Columbia University alumni, approached fellow alum Adam Mansbach (author of “Go the F**k to Sleep”) to help tell this origin story, and from that collaboration Mansbach penned the script.

]]>0Laughspin Staffhttp://www.laughspin.com/?p=823552016-11-21T22:52:11Z2016-11-21T21:48:43ZTo say it’s a rarity that a musician is inspired to write a song about a comedian would be an understatement. And that’s why this just-released song about universally respected comedian Emo Philips is such an endearing, thoughtful tribute. Written and performed by musician Henning Ohlenbusch, who once opened for Philips, the song – simply titled “Emo Philips” — is a delicate guitar ballad tastefully peppered with piano. In two minutes, Ohlenbusch deftly encapsulates the spirit of Philips, known for his understated and absolutely warped joke writing.

Apparently Ohlenbusch heard through Philips’ booking agent the comedian asked if the musician would write a song about him. Ohlenbusch said of course!

“I decided pretty early on that it would be useless and ultimately not very interesting to try to make a funny song,” Ohlenbusch says about the writing process. “Instead, I focused on this image in my head of Philips’ sad, innocent facial expressions.”

And Ohlenbusch delivers for sure. You can listen to the song below (we’ve lovingly transcribed the lyrics to enhance your experience).

Just when we got our bearings straight, we took this sudden strange left turn. How’d we end up here? Emo led the way…Emo…

We tried to catch a rising star, on our parents VCR. Letterman next day, we all heard David say…. Emo…

A continental breakfast in another hotel lobby. All those years ago did they say it’s just a hobby? After the first night did you think that it would last? A whole life spent making people laugh.

And when each evening ends, Emo stands alone on the stage and thanks us for being his friend… Then he heads out on the road again.

“I will never, ever, ever, write funnier, darker, more disturbing more inappropriate and 100 percent clean jokes than Emo Philips. Good God,” Patton Oswalt once said of the veteran comedian.

]]>0Laughspin Staffhttp://www.laughspin.com/?p=823422016-11-21T23:10:19Z2016-11-21T19:50:32ZThis may be the most tenuous Thanksgiving for families in the history of modern day Thanksgivings. And doubt the Election 2016 will be the made reason. Thankfully, Saturday Night Live delivered a trio of stellar sketches to help us all connect in our pain and misery. And because we love you, we’ve thoughtfully embedded them here. The first features Cecily Strong in a Target commercial that encourages people to visit its story– but not exactly for their offerings inside. The second sketch employs the brilliant Kristen Wiig, the former cast member who hosted the Saturday Night Live this weekend, as Sue (“The Surprise Lady), one of Wiig’s old characters. The third sketch below was cut for time and is the most bizarre but maybe the funniest.

As a little bonus we found a pair of older sketches featuring Wiig as The Surprise Lady. The first we find Wiig unable to handle the excitement when Playskool employees (Steve Buscemi, Vanessa Bayer, Paul Brittain, Bill Hader) gather in the break room to surprise a coworker who’s about to get a big promotion. And the second we find Chris (Josh Brolin) revealing to his friends that he’s planning on proposing to his girlfriend (Casey Wilson) and Wiig must contain her excitement, nearly ruining the surprise when the suspense gets the best of her. Enjoy

]]>0Laughspin Staffhttp://www.laughspin.com/?p=823382016-11-21T17:28:36Z2016-11-21T17:20:22ZWe’ll have more information on Dave Chappelle‘s deal with Netflix as it’s available. But for now here’s what we just got from Netflix. Exciting stuff to say the least.

Dave Chappelle is bringing his blistering brand of comedy to Netflix, the world’s leading Internet TV network, with three all-new stand-up specials. Chappelle and director Stan Lathan will produce an original stand-up comedy special exclusively for Netflix, with its premiere date to be announced. Two additional never-before-seen specials come directly from Chappelle’s personal comedy vault. Directed by Lathan and filmed at Austin City Limits and The Hollywood Palladium, these represent Chappelle’s first concert specials in 12 years and are slated to be released simultaneously in 2017.

“Dave Chappelle is a legendary voice in comedy — searing, vital, and now more than ever, essential,” said Lisa Nishimura, VP of Original Documentary and Comedy. “Dave’s three new specials promise to be some of the most anticipated events in comedy, and we are honored he will mark his global return on Netflix.”

Chappelle is a stand-up comedian and actor whose trademark wit and sharp irreverent social commentary most often explores race, popular culture, sex, drugs, politics and fame. The panoramic monologue he delivered during his debut on Saturday Night Live — the highest rated SNL in three years – was the comic relief the country needed following the 2016 Presidential election that personified our nation’s deep racial divide.

Arguably the most prolific touring comic on the circuit, Chappelle has performed over 500 concerts in the past three years, selling out shows within minutes of the announcements. In 2014, Chappelle sold out an unprecedented 10 consecutive comedy performances at Radio City Music Hall. Chappelle’s engagement at Radio City marked his first announced performances in New York City in over 10 years. It also celebrated the 10th anniversary of his concert documentary, Dave Chappelle’s Block Party, filmed during the summer of 2004 in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Chappelle was the mastermind behind the 2003 sketch comedy hit, The Chappelle Show – one of the highest rated programs on Comedy Central. The show earned three Emmy nominations and went on to become one of the best-selling TV shows in DVD history.

]]>0Dylan P. Gadinohttp://www.laughspin.com/?p=823242016-11-21T17:06:27Z2016-11-21T17:05:08ZIt’s comforting to know that president-elect Donald Trump is such a huge fan of comedy that, despite his busy schedule of meeting with some of the country’s worst possible candidates for his cabinet positions, he’s still making time to watch Saturday Night Live. How would we know such a seemingly mundane, unimportant detail about the man who will become the most powerful world leader this January?

Well, it’s because part of the new, twisted reality in which we live, the president of the United States is a sociopathic billionaire who has the social media presence of an 11-year-old middle child. “I watched parts of @nbcsnl Saturday Night Live last night. It is a totally one-sided, biased show – nothing funny at all. Equal time for us?,” Trump tweeted Sunday.

Alec Baldwin later responded, also on Twitter: “Equal time? Election is over. There is no more equal time.” He also wrote that now as Trump tries to be president, people respond and “that’s pretty much it,” adding, “I’d be focused on improving our reputation abroad, including actually fighting for freedom and not just oil.”

The Saturday Night Live cold open in question presents Trump post-election and in a desperate and frantic state attempting to understand what exactly he’s gotten himself into. Also noteworthy is that Kate McKinnon is back opposite Baldwin’s Trump, but not as Hillary Clinton. This time, she reprises her role as Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s campaign manager and now one of his top aides. In SNL‘s version, Conway isn’t the despicable, lying, gaslight specialist she is in real life. Rather, she’s a human that has regrets about doing her job too well.

Conway appeared on CNN this morning where she defended Trump’s compulsive, immature use of Twitter.

“Why take it up? Why take up ‘SNL’? No president does that. Why waste time? Why distract?” CNN’s Chris Cuomo asked Conway.

“Why do you care?” Conway responded, adding, among other things, “Who’s to say he can’t do that? Make a comment — spend five minutes sending a tweet, making a comment.”